Time-operated coin-controlled signal apparatus



C. H. MARTBN Oct. 31, 1939.

TIME-OPERATED COIN-CONTROLLED SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1937 2 Sheeus-Sheet l 1N VENTOR. 056371/66/5? iii/2 h? ATTORNEY.

Oct. 31, 19390 c. H. MARTIN 2.177.778

TIME-OPERATED COIN-CONTROLLED SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE TIME-OPERATED COIN-CONTROLLED SIGNAL APPARATUS This-invention relates to improvements in time-operated coin-controlled signal apparatus and is directed more particularly to apparatus known as parking meters.

The apparatus of the invention is characterized by a signal which is shiftable between siginvention are used in connection with a parking meter, the operator of a vehicle has but to deposit a coin in the coin slot of the apparatus and operate a lever or knob whereupon the time mechanism is wound and set in operation to locate a signal in one position; at the expiration of a predetermined period of time the timing mechanism shifts the signal to another position. As a special feature, in one of these positions, the signal is visible so that it may be readily known whether the vehicle is rightfully parked.

It will be understood that while the novel features of the invention will be described in connection with a parking meter they are adapted for use in apparatus constructed and arranged for other purposes as well.

According to one feature of the invention the apparatus includes a timing mechanism for operating, the signal which is characterized by means to. automatically stop the operation of the 'timing mechanism at the termination of a predetermined period of time.

According to another feature of the invention the apparatus includes a time mechanism which is set in operation-to operate a signal by means of. a coin mechanism which simultaneously functions to wind the timing mechanism and to set the timing mechanism in operation.

According to a further feature of the invention the coin mechanism of the apparatus is provided with. means to visibly display the coin on which the apparatus is operating. This makes it possible to immediately detect the presence of an unauthorized coin in the apparatus.

'Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a small scale elevational view of the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the interior plates of the invention to explain the time mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of tain parts of the time mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the coin-- control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective enlarged fragmentary 5 view of certain parts of-the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a perspective fragmentary view to explain certain features of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view to explain certain modifications which may be app-lied to the mechanism. Mi

Referring now to the drawings more in detail,

- the invention will be fully described.

In a broad way the apparatus consists of a housing 2 which may be supported in any suitable manner as by a support 4. The housing 2 153 is hollow and at its forward side there is a coin mechanism 6, below which there may be a coin drawer 8 slidable in and out.

At i0 is indicated a slot to receive the coins which pass through the coin mechanism and I 2 20 is a window to expose a coin which has passed through the coin mechanism and on which the apparatus is operated. There is a signal which is movable up and down between an upper signaling position, wherein it is'visible through a 25 dome l6, which may be of transparent material such as glass, and a non-signaling non-visible position.

As will hereinafter appear, the apparatus is constructed and arranged so that when the parking meter is set alongside of a parking space an operator drops a coin in the slot I0 and operates an operating member I 8, the coin passes down through the mechanism to lie behind the window l2. Asthe handle I8 is rotated the time 35 mechanism is wound and started in operation and the signal l4 disappears.

At the expiration of a certain predetermined period of time, according to the setting of the timing mechanism, the signal is elevated to sig- 4o naling position in the transparent dome. This indicates that the parking time allowed by the coin and measured by the time mechanism has expired so that the signal then is, of course, an indication that the time for which the operator 45 has paid has expired.

In the housing thereis a central plate 20 which carries on its rear sidea time mechanism which scribed. 66

The signal I4 as shown in Fig. 2 is shiftable as by being freely slidable up and down on a guide rod 36 associated with plate 26. It is in signalling position in Fig. 2 and is held therein by a signal shifting lever 32 pivoted at 34 'to plate 22. The time mechanism may be of any well-known form but in the form of the invention shown it includes a gear 36 which is actuated by spring means to be-described.

This gear 36 meshes with and drives a gear 38 on a shaft 46. A gear 42 on shaft 46 meshes with a gear 44 on shaft 46 and another gear 48 on said shaft 46 meshes with a gear 52 on a shaft 56. Another gear 54 on shaft 56 meshes with a gear 56 which gear is associated with an escapement ratchet wheel 58.

An escapement lever 66 pivoted at 62 has prongs or pawls 66' which co-operate with the ratchet, and a balance wheel 66 and hair spring (not shown) is provided as is usual in mechanisms of this kind. The parts described are suitably journalled between plate 22 and a plate II secured thereto by posts I2 and 13.

A spring 68 has one end secured to a shaft I6 and its other end is secured to the post I2. A ratchet wheel I4 (see Fig. 3) is also secured to shaft 16 while a pawl I6 is pivoted to gear 36 so as to engage the teeth of ratchet I4. A spring member I8 acts on the ratchet I6 so that the shaft I6 and ratchet wheel "I4 may rotate relative to gear 36 in one direction while the ratchet I6 drives the gear 36 in the opposite direction.

As shaft I6 is rotated counterclockwise with reference to Fig. 2, or clockwise with reference to Fig. 3, the spring 68 is wound up to store energy in the spring, the ratchet I4 rotating with the shaft passes by the pawl I6. When the escapement lever 66 oscillates up and down the spring mechanism of course operates the time mechanism and shaft I6 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 2. When the escapement lever 66 is stopped in its oscillation the time mechanism is rendered inoperative.

In the operation the shaft I6 which may be rotated counterclockwise to wind the spring becomes the operating shaft or driver like the shaft for the hands of a clock, when the escapement mechanism operates, since it is rotated clockwise by the spring as long as the escapement operates.

A lever 86 rotatable with shaft I6 carries a pin 82 which is engageable with a cam part 84 of the signal lever 32, while a lever 86 which carries a pin 88 is also rotatable with shaft I6. A lever 96 swingable on a pivot 92 carries a pin 94. -A stop member 96 in the form of a rod extending from lever 96 is arranged to act on escapement lever 66, to stop and start the escapement.

The rotatable shaft 24 of the coin mechanism 6 carries a cam member 26. In Fig. 2 the parts are shown with the signal in signaling position with the time mechanism inoperative. When cam 26 is rotated clockwise by shaft 24 the cam acts on pin 84 of lever 96 and on pin 88 of lever 86. The lever 96 is moved clockwise and leve 86 is moved counterclockwise.

' As lever 86 swings counterclockwise it rotates shaft 16 to wind up the spring 68 while lever 86 at the same time releases lever 32 so the signal assumes its non-signaling position. As lever 96 moves clockwise the member 96 acts on the escapement lever 66 to start the time mechanism. As the time mechanism operates. the-shaft I6 rotates clockwise so that lever 86 swings upwardly whereby the pin thereof engages cam 84 or the like.

of /lever 32 to raise said lever 32 upwardly and elevate the signal I4 to signaling position.

A rod I66 has its upper end engaged with a projection I62 on lever 32 while its lower end is slidable in an eye I64 on lever 86. The lower extremity of the rod is preferably formed so that as lever 32 is elevated the rod causes lever 96 to be elevated whereby member 96 engages the escapement lever to stop the time mechanism.

Lever 86 and the lever 86 may be so arranged I on the shaft I6 as to cause the time mechanism to operate for any desired predetermined length of time such as an hour, half-hour, three hours, The time mechanism will operate through a period of time depending on the angle through which arm 86 swings from its lower to its upper inoperative position and of course this angle may be varied in various ways, all as may be desired.

According to one form of the invention as shown in Fig. 8 an arm such as II6 may be rotatable on shaft I6 and adjustably secured to a lever II2 which is fixed on said shaft. The said lever II6 may be secured to the lever II2 by means of a screw II4 which passes through a slot II6 of lever H2, or in some other way.

The coin mechanism 6 may be of usual form such as shown in United States Letters Patent 1,850,382 of March 22, 1932, but is shown in a general way in Fig. 5. As has been previously stated, an operating member I8 is secured to a rotatable shaft 24 thereof. As a coin is deposited in the coin slot I6 of the coin mechanism the shaft 24 is released for counterclockwise rotation by member I8. In its rotation levers H6 and I36 of the coin mechanism (see Fig. 5) are moved clockwise by a cam II8 on shaft 24, and the coin, indicated by 0, moves downwardly past levers H6 and I36 and comes to rest on a stop or stops I22. When at rest the coin c is disposed adjacent the window I2 of the coin mechanism so that it may bereadily ascertained whether the apparatus is operating on an authorized coin.

A lever I36 is pivoted at I32 for swinging movements and has a lower flange portion I34 which is cut away at I36 so as to overlie the coin 0, while a kicker I38 extends outwardly from. the flange I34. A spring I46 secured at one end to a pin I42 is in engagement with a pin I 44 and has its outer end in engagement with the lever I36 so as to urge the lever I36 counterclockwise to hold the end of the flange in engagement with an abutment I46.

A projection I3I on lever I36 is engaged by a projection 24' of shaft as said shaft 24 is rotated counterclockwise whereby lever I36 is swung clockwise. Thereby when a subsequent -coin is deposited in the coin mechanism and the handle I8 is rotated to rotate shaft 24 the kicker I38 engages the coin c andmoves it from behind the window. Thus every time the apparatus is operated the particular coin which is used to operate it is vi ible, while in the next operation that particular coin is removed so that the one on which the apparatus is operating is visible.

The back plate 'II of the time mechanism. is preferably secured to the plate 26 by posts I2 and I3 while the coin mechanism may be sedetail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

thereon, a si'gnal on said guide movable up anddown between upper and lower positions, a signal lever pivoted on said support for engaging and moving said signal upwardly, a time mechanism having a spring and a rotatable shaft for winding said spring when rotated in one direction and adapted to be rotatedby said spring in an opposite direction, a lever associated with said shaft engageable with the signal lever when the shaft is rotated by the spring to actuate the signaLfor moving the signal upwardly, and means for rotating said shaft in said one direction.

2. A signal apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a support, a guide thereon, a signal on said guide, movable up and down between upper and lower positions, a signal lever pivoted on said support for engaging and moving said signal upwardly, a time mechanism having a spring and a rotatable shaft for winding said spring when rotated in one direction and adapted to be rotated by said spring in an opposite direction, a lever associated with said shaft engageable with the signal lever when the shaft is rotated by the spring to actuate the signal for moving the signal upwardly and retain the same in upper position, and means for rotating said shaft in said one direction.

3. A signal apparatus of the class described comprising in combination a support, a guide thereon, a signal on said guide movable up and down between upper and lower positions, a signal lever pivoted on said support for engaging and moving said signal upwardly, a time mechanism having a spring and a rotatable shaft for winding said spring when rotated in one direc- 

